GRAND PRAIRIE Grand Prairie police say six people were shot and killed and four others were wounded at a roller skating rink Saturday evening.
Investigators now say the gunfire erupted during a private birthday party for an 11-year-old boy at Forum Roller World, 1900 South Great Southwest Parkway.
Police said the child's parents who had been involved in ongoing marital problems, according to a statement were hosting the party.
The father, identified as 35-year-old Tan Do, pulled out a weapon and began shooting at 7:10 p.m., witnesses told investigators. Police said it appeared he was targeting his estranged wife Trini Do, 29, and members of her family.
Trini Do was killed.
Other victims included two of her sisters, Lynn Ta, 16, and Michelle Ta, 28; a brother, Hien Ta, 21; and Ms. Do's sister-in-law, Thuy Nguyen, 25.
Four other people were injured in the gunfire at the party for about 30 people. They were all expected to survive their wounds, police said.
Neither of the Do children were injured, and police said they were staying with other family members.
The shooting suspect died from a single, self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, police said.
Police said no young children or rink employees were among the casualties.
People were seen running from the skating rink.
They just looked terrified, said Cody Poston. There's several people crying. The kids were just kind of oblivious, I mean, they were ranging from four to 10 years old.
Aaron Feldt was across the street at a bowling alley when the shots rang out.
I saw family coming across the street looking panicked. They had children along with some adults, he said. You could tell there was a sense of urgency and panic in their eyes.
Feldt said the bowling alley was locked down as a precaution and that 7 or 8 of the family members who survived the shooting were being interviewed by police.
Byron Rasberry got the call from police to pick up his child after the violence.
It's a shock... it's just not right, man... the world's not right, he said. I just feel sorry for the kids that were off in there.
Grand Prairie police cordoned off the area, setting up a mobile command unit in front of the skating rink as grim-faced detectives began collecting evidence.
We will have crisis counselors on hand for the witnesses, the victims and the families of the victims to make sure that the Grand Prairie Police Department is offering every resource to help heal in this process, Police Chief Steve Dye said.
Derrian Harris, 18, of Grand Prairie said he rushed to the rink Saturday night after hearing about the shootings. He said he usually goes there every Friday night and was worried about whether any of his friends were hurt, but later believed that he didn't know any of the victims. He said he has never seen so much as a fight at the rink.
All kinds of people come here to skate, and everybody gets along, Harris said.
Walt Hedrick, owner of the Forum Roller World rink, told News 8 he planned to reopen for business at 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
E-mail jbetz@wfaa.com
